Taroko Gorge National Park in Taiwan is one of the my favorite places in the world. I went around Taipei at first, then took a train down to Hualian and rented a scooter from there. Driving a scooter on the main roads outside the city is not for the faint of heart. In the city, scooters outnumber cars by 50 to 1 it seems. On the open road, cars and especially large trucks that like to tailgate, are the norm. Exploring the area by scooter was a great way see things at your own pace. There is a Catholic Church that rents out rooms or dorm beds for guest, the only other accommodation at time of writing was a 5 star hotel that honeymooners like to stay at inside the park. I've stayed at both and I'm not convinced paying the extra amount for the hotel is worth it, unless maybe you are actually on your honeymoon.

There is natural hot spring pools you can hike to next to the river. Some brave souls would even immerse themselves in the fast flowing mountain river, which I wouldn't have been surprised if it was glacial runoff based on the water temp.That's one of the most refreshing things I've done.